Portraits of past Warren mayors to be displayed

Over the past 50 years or so, some of Warren’s mayors have become larger-than-life figures, major players on the area’s political scene.

So it’s only natural these men — a female has yet to serve in the city’s top elected position — be honored in some way. That’s why current Mayor James Fouts will host a ceremony on Oct. 17 to unveil portraits of the past seven leaders that will be on permanent display in City Hall.

“We’re going to have a dedication ceremony for the photos because they represent the city and its past leaders and I think we ought to honor and cherish them and their accomplishments,” Fouts said.

The photos originally were hung up on a wall in the former City Hall but somehow became misplaced when the municipality’s workforce made the move to a new building in 2006.

Advertisement

Fouts and his staff tracked them down in the basement of City Hall and took the portraits to Patrick’s Photographic Studios on Mound Road for restoration.

“They look really nice,” said Fouts, a former longtime councilman and retired high school government teacher. “We’re going to put them up near the library in the atrium, so anyone coming into City Hall will have a chance to see all of our past mayors.”

The past leaders include:

Arthur J. Miller, 1957-1961

Louis Kelsey, Jan. 1, 1961-April 1961

William Shaw, 1961-1967

Ted Bates, 1967-1981

James R. Randlett, 1981-1985

Ronald J. Bonkowski, 1985-1995

Mark A. Steenbergh, 1995-2007

Eleanor Bates, former wife of Ted Bates, applauded the move.

“I think it’s about time,” said Bates, 84, who is often referred to as the “First Lady of Warren.”

“I had heard the pictures were put in the basement during the Steenbergh administration and I asked Jim Fouts one time why they weren’t on display and he said he’d look into it. They all deserve to be on display for the public. I was married to Ted for 35 years and I know for a fact that he was a very good mayor. He worked very hard for the people of Warren.”

Likewise, former state Sen. Arthur Miller said the dedication is a “real honor” to all of the families of the former elected officials. He is the son Arthur J. Miller, the city’s first mayor and Edna Miller, the first female Macomb County clerk.

“This will provide some sense of our history for the people coming into City Hall who might stop and take a minute to look at them. I’m old enough to know who Bill Shaw and Louis Kelsey are, and we certainly all know Ted Bates, our longest-serving mayor. This is a nice move by Mayor Fouts, who has recognized others in our community such as our military veterans, so I think it’s very nice,” Miller said.

The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. and is open to the public. Any relative of the past mayors who has not yet been contacted by Fouts’ office is asked to call 586-574-4522.